Skin Conditions and Spray Tanning

Why I assess every client's skin before a spray tan

A spray tan is a cosmetic treatment. The solution develops color on the surface of the skin, which means the texture and condition of your skin change how that color looks and how evenly it fades. A spray tan does not treat any skin condition and it will not change one.

If you have a diagnosed skin condition, broken or irritated skin, or skin that reacts easily, tell me when you book. I will look at the areas you are concerned about and either adjust how I prep and apply the tan, or tell you honestly that I would rather not tan you that day. If you are being treated for a skin condition, please check with your doctor or dermatologist first. Not sure where to start? A skin care consultation is the right first step, and you can see all of my spray tanning services here.

Here is what I look at before I pick up the airbrush, and what tends to happen cosmetically in each case.

Vitiligo: Spray tanning can help visually blend the contrast between pigmented and unpigmented areas. It takes me longer, because I work area by area rather than in broad passes. Hands, feet and other dry areas grab more solution and can develop darker than intended, although a heavier application in those spots is sometimes what it takes to match the surrounding tone. We agree on how closely you want to blend before I start.

Eczema: Dry, textured patches absorb more solution and can develop darker than the skin around them. A barrier cream applied beforehand helps even that out. I cannot tell you how your eczema will respond to a spray tan, so if you have an active flare, broken skin, or a prescribed treatment, talk to me and to your doctor before you book.

Oily skin: Oily skin is the most difficult to work with. The solution can sit on the surface rather than absorbing evenly, so the bronze guide color may look wet or speckled straight after your appointment. The developed color you see after your first shower is a truer picture of the result.

Knee and elbow creases: I position you in a squat when I spray the knees, and I have you hold your arms so the solution reaches into the creases at the elbows.

Dry skin: I apply barrier cream or a thick lotion to rough and dry areas such as hands, feet, elbows and knees before I spray, and that is included in your appointment. Afterward, keep moisturizing after every shower, twice a day, or the tan will fade unevenly. Our body care lotions are what I keep on hand for exactly this.

Sunburn or peeling skin: I do not spray tan skin that is sunburned or peeling. The color will not sit evenly and the result will not look natural. Reschedule once your skin has fully recovered.

Rosacea: Cosmetically, a tan can visually even out the look of redness and blotchiness in the same way a tinted product does. It does not treat rosacea and it will not change the condition itself. If your rosacea is active, or you are on a prescribed treatment, check with your dermatologist first and let me know when you book.

Age and sun spots: Darker spots tend to take up more color and can develop unnaturally dark. I apply a light layer of lotion over the larger ones before spraying to keep that in check.

The short version: bring me your questions before your appointment rather than after. The more I know about your skin, the better your tan will look.